6 years ago - 24-year-old Jack's brother David Knight dies, and his father Ted Knight insists that he take over the legacy of Starman. He agrees, but only if Ted begins releasing his scientific research publicly.

The name "Starman" is actually one of the most expansive legacies in DC comics. No fewer than TEN different characters have used the name, and several of them are actually really important to the overall history of the DC universe. Our goal was to focus on the most important versions of Starman, and to find a way to make each new iteration visually and creatively distinct while still making sure we honor the overall history of the name. To that end, we've created five different heroes that use the name, each from a different era. Some of them are directly from the comics, others are amalgams of more than one version of Starman.

While we've made some pretty drastic alterations to a lot of the characters to bear the name Starman, we've gone well out of our way to make sure that Jack Knight, the main character of James Robinson's book Starman vol 2, is as comic-accurate as we can get it within the confines of our redesigned continuity. This is one of the best comics ever written and one of the most original, wonderfully concieved characters in comics, and we want to get as close to Robinson's version as possible.

Jack Knight's Comic History

While Jack Knight appeared for the first time in the pages of Zero Hour in 1994, he really debuted in his own series, Sandman Vol 2, which ran from 1994 to 2001. He is the creation of James Robinson, a creator who has always exhibited a unique appreciation of the heroic legacy of comic book characters. he's also responsible for the modern Justice Society ( a team Jack served on briefly), and his underrated redesign of the Justice League.

Robinson's Starman was a character that loved old things. He was a collector and antiques dealer. He took up the family legacy of heroism out of a sense of obligation, but his relationship with that legacy was a central part of the story. He refused to wear a costume like his father or brother. He refused to engage in colorful superheroics. He was just a young guy who made mistakes and tried to do his best in the world. Often the stories would deliberately challenge the traditional black and white notions of good and evil that so often drive the narrative of the medium.

Eventually, Jack retired. he passed down his families Cosmic Rod to Courtney Whitmore, Stargirl. He chose to just be a husband and father. It was the perfect end to what might be a perfect comic.

Our Jack Knight Story

James Robinson actually has a deal with DC that they can't use Jack Knight without his permission. The result is that his story is actually very tight and well-constructed, and we wanted to alter as little of it as possible. We've made a few small changes to the world around him, however, and those have some small, minor effects on his world.

Perhaps the biggest change is the specific identity of his girlfriend Sadie. in the comics, she is the sister of former Starman Will Payton. We've essentially removed that character from continuity, requiring a new identity for Sadie, but we've found something that we think is actually an improvement. In the original comic a character named Nash is the daughter of his father's nemesis the Mist. The story touches on the idea that perhaps these two characters don't need to continue the animosity that existed between their fathers, but eventually she gives in to her villany and essentially rapes him, carrying his child.

We would much rather let that original idea be the thing that defines them. So in our story she is Sadie Nash, the daughter of the Mist. She chooses to abandon her father's vendetta, and the two of them have a child together. When Jack retires he and Sadie are both choosing to set aside their legacies and instead choosing to be a family. We like that story much better.